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£3 Ft 



Col. Unoram's 

Iproclamation, 
1779 



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WINNOWINGS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. 



REVOLUTIONARY PROCLAMATIONS. 
No. I. 



250 copies printed. 

No 



Proceedings of a Council of 
War held at Burke Jail, 
Georgia, January 14th, 
1779, with a Narrative of 
the Subsequent Proceed- 
ings, and the Proclama- 
tion Issued, 



BY 



LiEOT. Col. JAMES INGRAM. 




EDITED BY 



PAUL LEICESTER FORD. 



BROOKLYN, N.Y.: 
STORiCAL Printing Club. 
1890. 



IHE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS 
SERIAL RECORD 

MAY2 7 11- 

Copy 1-.. 



i'A»^. ''^■' 




NOTE. 

After the fall of Savannah, Eben- 
ezer and Sunbury, Georgian historians 
have agreed in stating that " nothing 
of the American Army ... re- 
mained in Georgia." The British 
forces had been pushed up the Sa- 
vannah River as high as the ferry at 
Two Sisters, and according to Gen. 
Prevost, the inhabitants were flocking 
in to take the oath of allegiance to 
the crown, and in many cases enrolling 
themselves in the Loyalists' ranks. 
Commodore Parker and Col. Camp- 
bell had issued a proclamation, offer- 
ing immunity and security to all who 
should acknowledge their allegiance, 
and a reward for the capture of every 
"Committee and Assemblyman . . . 
(5) 



and . . . every lurking villian." The 
state, exhaused by her recent Indian 
war, seemed to be once more in every 
respect an English colony. Even 
Col. Campbell claimed that he had 
"cleared the province of the rebel 
army." 

That both he and the Georgian his- 
torians erred is shown by the follow- 
ing documents. Had the military 
ability of this council of war equalled 
its courage and hatred of the English 
and Loyalists, something might have 
been accomplished ; but the result of 
this "bold push " is only recorded by 
Gen. Prevost, in his official dispatch to 
Lord George Germaine of March 5, 
1779: 

I now proceed to inform your Lord- 
ship that some days ago intelligence 
being received that the Rebels, in con- 
siderable force, had taken post at Brier 
Creek, thirteen miles above our pots 



I 



at Hudson's, and that they were busied 
in repairing the bridge, (which had 
been destroyed by Col. Campbell in 
his return downwards,) as if intending 
to advance by that route, our post was 
reinforced, and dispositions secretely 
made to give them a proper reception : 
and it being much to be wished that 
they would put the Creek in their 
rear, which would put it in our power 
to attack them on advantageous 
ground, means were used to inspire 
them with confidence to attempt it 
But, after waiting two days, finding 
that they meant only to establish 
themselves there for the purpose of 
hampering us in our quarters, and 
cutting us off from all communication 
with the Upper Country, and perhaps 
had views of co-operation with their 
main army, it was judged proper to 
dislodge them. 

Accordingly Major McPherson, with 
the 1st battalion, 71 regiment, and 
some Irregulars, with two field pieces, 
was directed by Lieutenant Colonel 
Prevost to advance towards the bridge 



8 



to make the movements he himself 
had made with the 2d battalion, 71st 
regiment, a corps of Light Infantry, 
commanded by Sir James Baird, and 
three companies of Grenadiers, of the 
Florida brigade, with which he took a 
long circuit of fifty miles to cross the 
Creek above them, and endeavor to 
gain their rear. Dispositions were 
also made by the army to favour the 
attempt, and to amuse and keep Mr. 
Lincoln in check, should he in the 
mean time attempt any thing in this 
quarter. Our plan was happily ef- 
fected; the Rebels being in some 
measure surprised on the 3d instant 
were totally defeated and dispersed, 
with the loss of seven pieces of cannon, 
several stands of colours, almost all 
their arms, all their ammunition and 
baggage, which were left to the vic- 
torious troops, the intrepidity and 
behaviour of whom I am entreated by 
Lieutenant Colonel Prevost to report 
to your Lordship to be laid before his 
Majesty. Permit me at the same 
time to mention him as a person de- 



serving some mark of his Majesty's 
Royal favour; his indefatigable ac- 
tivity, and his faithful services, intitle 
him to your Lordship's patronage. 

The second in command, Brigadier- 
General Elbert, one of their best Offi- 
cers, several more of note, in the whole 
twenty-seven Officers were taken with 
near two hundred men; about 150 
were killed on the field of battle and 
adjoining woods and swamps; but 
their chief loss consists in the number 
of Officers and men drowned in at- 
tempting to save themselves from the 
slaughter, and plunging into a deep 
and rapid river. 

The loss on our side was only five 
Privates killed, and one Officer and 
ten Privates wounded. , The Rebels, 
by the best accounts, were above two 
thousand. Their Commissary, our 
prisoner, says, two thousand five hun- 
dred. On our side three Grenadier 
Companies of the 60th regiment, Sir 
James Baird's Light Infantry, the 2d 
battalion 71st regiment. Captain 
Tawes's Troop of Light dragoons. 



lO 

with about 150 Provincials, Rangers 
and Militia, making in all about 900, 
composed the corps that attacked. 

The good consequences of this de- 
feat will, I hope, soon appear. The 
Rebels will not again disturb us in 
this Province. Our communication 
with our back friends and the Indians 
will be open; and though I cannot 
think it prudent to extend immediately 
far upwards, in the mean time, whilst 
we guard what we have already got, 
we hold ourselves in readiness to 
catch at further favourable incidents, 
as they may occur. 

The result of this defeat was the loss 
of Augusta and the almost complete 
yielding of the State to the British. 
As another result, the name of Lieut- 
Col. Ingram does not appear in any 
work on that state I have been able 
to consult. Possibly the following 
documents (now first printed from the 
originals in the possession of Mr. 



II 



Gordon L. Ford) may win for him a 
passing mention in the future. 

Paul Leicester Ford. 

97 Clark St., Brooklyn, N. V. 



At a Council of War held at head 
Quarters at Burk Jail JanT 14 — 1779, 
for the Purpose of considering the 
most expedient method to reclaim the 
disaffected that has been influenced to 
Assemble in consequence of the proc- 
lamation signed by Hyde Parker & 
Archibald Cambell dated Savannah 
4*:^ of January — 1779 

Present Col? Frances Pugh Lt. 
Col?'' Jam^ Ingram, & Samuel Lanier, 
M^LJ? Jam*. Martin, Cap'." Andrew 
Burney, Benj? Mathews, Charl' Craw- 
ford, Danl Walikon, John H. Wilkin- 
son, George Wyche, Joseph Atkinson, 
Moses Davis, John Sharp, Thorn". 
Lewis, Joshua Hinman, John Warren, 
John Murrey,— L^ Rob' Clark, 
(13) 



14 

Thorn* Townsend, Matthia Gray, 
Thom^ Ford, Shadrick Hinman, Jam* 
Castilo, Saml Holton, Jam^ Lewis, 

Frederick Wommach 

It was agreed Nem : Con. That 

a Proclamation be issued by Col? In- 
gram giving the disaffected three Days 
time to come in (Col° Thomas, David 
Russel, William Tucker, Will"" Bel- 
fair, John Bonell, John Robison, 
Henery Overstreet, Valentine Hol- 
lingsworth & Parson Ranoldson, All 
the above persons having forfited their 
Recognizance being excepted). It 
was likewise agreed that the above 
persons be took as prisoners & those 
of them that was not to be taken their 
Estates to be seized for the use of 
the State & all those that fail coming 
in are to be deemed as Enemies & 



15 

dealt with accordingly — It was agreed 
that Col? Pugh^ Officers take each a 
Party of light horse & apprehend all 
their leaders & deluders of the people 
& bring them into Camp. 



To the INHABITANTS of the Coun- 
ties ofB URKE and EFFINGHAM. 
Whereas many designing and art- 
full Traitors who heretofore have 
claimed Protection from the United 
States have taken advantage of the 
Credulety of the good People of this 
State, and thereby Poisoned the minds 
of the Inhabitants of the above named 
Counties by exhibiting Thro' a Mag- 
nifying Glass the Power of our enemies 
and taking the advantage of the 
Ingnorant by putting a rong con- 
struction on a Proclamation dated at 
Savannah JanY 4th 1779. Issued by 
two of the King's Officers who are 
come to Georgia to make their last 
Struggle against the defenceless Citi- 
(16) 



17 

zens of this State, which they know 
were reduced to a state of distress, by 
their Influence over the Emesaries of 
the Devil and the King of Great 
Britain, namely the Indians from 
whom we now expect a little rest, but 
being recovered from our Surprise I 
am come to this Place with an Armed 
Force to protect and save our fellow 
Citizens.— Be it therefore KNOWN 
to all the good people of this State 
that all those that will repair to the 
AMERICAN STANDARD at Burke 
Jail, take the Oath of Allegiance and 
take up Arms within the Space of 
three days after seeing this shall be 
deemed as friends to their Country 
and be protected in their persons and 
properties (a few of the leaders ex- 
cepted). You have my Countrymen 



i8 

no way of returning to the Class of 
peaceful Citizens but by driving from 
the Continent every external enemy, 
for if you raise your Arms in defence 
of the King, consider you have, by far 
the greatest and strongest part of this 
State to Conquer and the other Twelve, 
for one link of the chain cannot fall to 
the ground, therefore open your eyes 
e're it is too late for should you fail to 
come in. I shall treat you as enemies 
in every sense of the word: 

Ja^. Ingram LrCol 

Burke Jail, Jany i^th i779- 



Sir : I received yours with a looo 
Dollars inclosed pr the Hand of L*. ; 
McGee, Col° Hammons writes me 
agreeable news — I have made a bold 
push, & am now encamped at Burk 
Goal with about 250 men who behave 
like regulars, my orders in every re- 
spect are punctually obeyed 1 have 

hoisted the Standard & issued a Proc- 
lamation which I inclose to you — I 
called A Council on coming to this 
Place the proceedings of which I send 
you I have received certain Intelli- 
gence that 3000 of the enemy are in 
motion against Augusta — their Plan 
is to move 3Cmd under Magirt up 
Ogechee on the South side 500 up 
the upper Road & 1000 up the lower 
(19) 



20 

Road and the whole are to rendezvous 
at Augusta so as to protect the dis- 
affected of South Carolina. — They 
have received a reinforcement Lately 
& Provost & Brown have joined — My 
spy tells me there was a constant can- 
nonading on friday last at Sunbury 
& it is supposed it is taken pray do 
not send Mr. Grier as A spy any 
more, as they are informed of him I 
intend to keep constant spies out — the 
Burk people flock to the Standard 
very fast — Col? Pugh since I came 
has greatly reinforced — & is a scour- 
ing the Country — I shall act with 
great Caution — 

I am with great respect &c 

Jam^ Ingram L*. C: 

Burk Goal, 75 January lyjg. 



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